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Originally Posted by Finny61
Well here's the reason why I don't desire to just jump into some argument when its something I take very personally because it will just fuel a fire. I consider myself religious, I practice Christianity because I was brought up in it and never felt I needed to turn completely away from it but I had my times where I let go (specifically college). I go to church every Sunday nowadays, I donate money to the church and do charitable works through the church to help others. My money I trust is given to help run the church I think that's something that is misguided is that the church has richaes, we give money to keep the church going and keep it active in society and help pay for missionary work in other countries where there is a dictatorship, extreme poverty or extreme violence.
Now I'm not the guy who wants to tear down doors and tell you what you've been missing. I believe in what I believe for me and not for society. Yes it goes against the ideas of my religion because there is the belief that you must be evangelical and go out tell people the good news. Well it's not me, if someone wants to talk to me about religion I'll share but I won't impose anything on anyone. You see I don't necessarily agree with everything in the Bible, I believe everyone who practices has a tug of war with some issue. In the end the Bible is written by man so it is inherently flawed BUT it is an excellent book of morality. Keep in mind folks yes religion is the belief in the greater being and that you must conform to a way of life, but what supersedes it is that religion provides hope. Life should be viewed as a gift and that it should made of use and not 'you live and you die and then there is nothing'. If you believe in life after death you are inherently religious, if you believe you'll see your parents, your spouse, and heaven forbid your children if it happened, you inherently believe in some form of spirituality. Call a spade a spade it is religion just not organized.
The reason I say it'd be a darker world is because I think morality would take a backseat. Science and IQ doesn't make one a better person it is only tools to advancement, why do you think there is the term 'smart ass' right?
In closing I'd probably just argue that you can't judge what you've never tried. I can say that because at different times in my own life I've been on both sides of the fence of religion, and I don't chastize anyone who believes in a different religion then I and nor do I think those who don't believe are destined to hell. You believe in what you believe, and I'll believe in what I believe just be open to the world and realize that everyone has to find their own way.
PS: To the guy who says we use it as a crutch, correct, that we use it because we are lonely, completely incorrect. Nice try sport. I left religion when I was in college being a party animal, I came back to religion once I got married and started my family.
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Thanks for your viewpoints. I think you share the same views as most theists in this world. Its how you explain these ideas that creates the discussions?
Ill comment on the bolded parts only:
Christianity, Islam, or any other theistic choice is taught to children at a very young age. You are correct in that "you were brought up in it". If you were born in the Middle East you could be a Muslim or Jewish. We are all born Atheist and taught what we should believe by our elders.
You donate money to the church to keep it going because otherwise it might just die a slow and painful death. The church often uses guilt and a promise of a heavenly thereafter to gain these monetary benefits. Is it not a form of dictatorship by the church when they go to a poor country and use whatever choice of religion they use to gather more flock? Do you think that the people of Africa who never hear of Christianity will go to an unpleasant place after death?
Its a difficult concept for quite a few people to understand how a person can suggest that something they follow is inherently flawed, yet provides a good moral guide? How do you explain away the parts that aren't good morals? Is it a pick and choose type of thing within your particular church? People provide hope through whatever organization they belong to. There are many secular organizations that offer hope of all kinds.
Morality is not a religious ideal. If it was, there would be no moral issues within the church. Ive met many smart asses who consider themselves very religious...that doesnt stem from the scientific mold. <Poor choice of words?>
The last bolded part is a poor argument. The FACT is; most Atheists have come from extremely religious backgrounds. I would beg to suggest that most Atheists know more about religions than those who are locked in its vices. Being a freethinker allows one to look at everything with an open mind vs a single direction.
None of the above is an attack on your choice...just an attempt at reasoning.